Some really good RAL shows

Macfan4life · #1 10-14-2023, 12:52 PM

The RAL tour was like the Wild Heart tour meaning there were some really good shows, some really wild shows, and some really bad shows. In 1983 Stevie's banter was wandering and sporadic and no few knew what she was talking about. The RAL tour was the same but her banter was more aggressive. The opening night in Houston is really good and you can feel the excitement of opening night. What a treat because not only is Gold Dust Woman in the set but the very rare Sara and the one time Gypsy performed on the first night. Its not bad and very whimsical with keyboards. She babbles about going on vacation with Tom Petty and Bob Dylan to Australia and then want to introduce her bass player Jennifer but cant remember her last name LOL. Then she talks how she played for Don Henley.....then immediately yells and sings "SHE LIKES TO PARTY, SHE LIKES TO GET DOWN" referring to Don's song All She Wants To Do Is Dance. At the end of Edge of 17 she comments on her falling off the stage and says she thought she was going to be badly injured and said something like some people were trying to snatch her while others were pulling her another way. She tells the crowd that she worked hard for 3 years on the album so she could go back on the road and wishes she could go home with everyone in the audience and go to their house to spend time with them.
The Oklahoma show still has Sara and its really good. Not much screaming and she sounds pretty good. Her voice was never great on the RAL tour but this stop she's keeping it together. At the end a small boy is brought on stage and Stevie asks him if he wants to say anything but he was too scared to speak. Then she says the same thing she said with Elaine "I have to give him back, right?"
These early shows were good but the Nebraska stop which is just a few days later she is screaming so bad through Gold Dust Woman that its really bad and distracting. The wheels started coming off later.

Houston
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf5arGmfpn0&t=5793s

Oklahoma (this is the best I've heard her this tour) She introduces her band after Dreams but stops at drums. She then continues introducing the band after I Need To Know. Strange.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdoxT5Mk5Dg&t=176s

David · #2 10-16-2023, 05:14 PM

Oklahoma City sounds like a great performance.

There were two gigs on audience cassettes that were my favorite: August 2 at the Capital Centre and August 5 at the Garden.

The June 29 concert in Orange County was so-so (although she was dressed in a feather headdress all night and sang a little Howlin’ Wolf on “Rhiannon” owing to a microphone stand mishap). The July 13 show in San Diego was a blasted mess of awful sound. July 14 and 17 in Northern CA were pretty good. July 18 in Los Angeles was the best of all the CA shows. She was on point. Some celebs in the front, including that stupid hairdresser Jose. Last appearance in CA was August 28 for the big environmental benefit, but Stevie got lost in the huge roster of performers (as did Lindsey). Mick played talking drum and conga onstage at just about all these appearances, even running out at one point and falling on the stage and his drum went flying stage left and continued to roll. 1986 was a very, very good year for Stevie Nicks craziness.

Steviegirl · #3 10-16-2023, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Oklahoma City sounds like a great performance.

There were two gigs on audience cassettes that were my favorite: August 2 at the Capital Centre and August 5 at the Garden.

Mick played talking drum and conga onstage at just about all these appearances, even running out at one point and falling on the stage and his drum went flying stage left and continued to roll. 1986 was a very, very good year for Stevie Nicks craziness.

THIS sounds HILARIOUS!

BLY · #4 10-16-2023, 06:39 PM

I’m glad I got to see her on the RAL tour but she was a mess. I did love her voice back in the 1983-1987 years.

HomerMcvie · #5 10-17-2023, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Oklahoma City sounds like a great performance.

There were two gigs on audience cassettes that were my favorite: August 2 at the Capital Centre and August 5 at the Garden.

The June 29 concert in Orange County was so-so (although she was dressed in a feather headdress all night and sang a little Howlin’ Wolf on “Rhiannon” owing to a microphone stand mishap). The July 13 show in San Diego was a blasted mess of awful sound. July 14 and 17 in Northern CA were pretty good. July 18 in Los Angeles was the best of all the CA shows. She was on point. Some celebs in the front, including that stupid hairdresser Jose. Last appearance in CA was August 28 for the big environmental benefit, but Stevie got lost in the huge roster of performers (as did Lindsey). Mick played talking drum and conga onstage at just about all these appearances, even running out at one point and falling on the stage and his drum went flying stage left and continued to roll. 1986 was a very, very good year for Stevie Nicks craziness.

Were you working for your dad, or just tagging along?

WatchChain · #6 10-18-2023, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

The opening night in Houston is really good and you can feel the excitement of opening night. What a treat because not only is Gold Dust Woman in the set but the very rare Sara and the one time Gypsy performed on the first night. Its not bad and very whimsical with keyboards. She babbles about going on vacation with Tom Petty and Bob Dylan to Australia and then want to introduce her bass player Jennifer but cant remember her last name LOL. Then she talks how she played for Don Henley.....then immediately yells and sings "SHE LIKES TO PARTY, SHE LIKES TO GET DOWN" referring to Don's song All She Wants To Do Is Dance. At the end of Edge of 17 she comments on her falling off the stage and says she thought she was going to be badly injured and said something like some people were trying to snatch her while others were pulling her another way. She tells the crowd that she worked hard for 3 years on the album so she could go back on the road and wishes she could go home with everyone in the audience and go to their house to spend time with them.

I attended the opening night of the Rock a Little Tour at the Summit in Houston, Texas on April 11, 1986. I was 15. It was a good show. As usual for this era, she was flying. It was still better than live music concerts in 2023 - where electronic backing tracks make the whole show nothing but glorified karaoke.